Clinic Wellness Team. A key factor to spine or back pain conditions is staying healthy. Overall wellness involves a balanced diet, appropriate exercise, physical activity, restful sleep, and a healthy lifestyle. The term has been applied in many ways. But overall, the definition is as follows.
It is a conscious, self-directed, and evolving process of achieving full potential. It is multidimensional, bringing together lifestyles both mental/spiritual and the environment in which one lives. It is positive and affirms that what we do is, in fact, correct.
It is an active process where people become aware and make choices towards a more successful lifestyle. This includes how a person contributes to their environment/community. They aim to build healthier living spaces and social networks. It helps in creating a person’s belief systems, values, and a positive world perspective.
Along with this comes the benefits of regular exercise, a healthy diet, personal self-care, and knowing when to seek medical attention. Dr. Jimenez’s message is to work towards being fit, being healthy, and staying aware of our collection of articles, blogs, and videos.
Digestive disorders affect millions of individuals and cover a variety of diseases ranging from mild to severe. These conditions involve the digestive tract, also known as the gastrointestinal or GI tract. The digestive disorders of heartburn, acid reflux, and gastroesophageal reflux disease/GERD are related and have similar symptoms but are different. Accurately diagnosing digestive disorders involves a thorough medical history, imaging and lab tests, and physical examination to develop the proper treatment plan.
Digestive Disorders
The gastrointestinal tract includes the esophagus, liver, gallbladder, stomach, pancreas, and large and small intestines.
Heartburn
Heartburn has nothing to do with the heart but describes a burning sensation in the chest. Individuals experience heartburn when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus. Occasional heartburn after eating spicy foods or foods an individual is not used to is common and is no cause for alarm. Most can manage the discomfort symptoms with lifestyle adjustments and over-the-counter medications. Chronic heartburn that interferes with daily/nightly routines could indicate a more serious condition requiring medical care. Symptoms include:
The burning discomfort sensations in the stomach and chest regions are usually worse after eating a meal, bending down, at night, and when lying down.
A bitter or acidic taste.
Acid Reflux
The esophagus comprises mainly smooth muscle that extends from the throat down through the chest cavity and past the abdomen, where it connects with the stomach. When swallowing, the esophagus opens and squeezes food down to the bottom, where a valve (lower esophageal sphincter LES) separates it from the stomach. The valve is normally closed. When swallowing, it opens so that food can pass through and then closes up. Acid reflux is a disorder that causes the valve to open when it’s not supposed to. This allows stomach contents like acid, digestive juices, enzymes, and food to flow backward from the stomach into the esophagus, causing heartburn symptoms. This usually happens when the lower esophageal sphincter is under added pressure, weakened, or malfunctioning. Symptoms can be caused by:
Overeating.
Eating spicy or acidic foods that can trigger symptoms.
Eating right before going to bed.
Medications.
Over alcohol consumption.
Exercising after eating.
Pregnancy.
Smoking.
Acid reflux and heartburn affect everyone, but most can handle the discomfort by taking antacids and avoiding the foods that brought it on. Occasional acid reflux can be treated with over-the-counter medication, including:
Acid reflux can potentially progress to gastroesophageal reflux disease, a more serious form of acid reflux that lasts longer. GERD is frequent heartburn that happens two or more times a week. Other signs and symptoms can include:
Some individuals with digestive disorders may need more extensive diagnostic evaluations, including GI endoscopy, laboratory tests, and imaging.
Chiropractic Treatment
Body misalignments, unhealthy posture, and restrictive positions can contribute to digestive disorders that put pressure on the stomach and chest, triggering symptoms. A chiropractor can realign the body and take the stress off the joints and spine, relieving the pressure on the nerves. They can also strengthen the muscles through adjustments that help alleviate pressure on the stomach. A chiropractor designs a treatment plan that suits the individual’s needs, including stretches and exercises, nutrition, and health coaching to achieve and manage a healthy weight.
Chiropractic Precision
References
Carvalho de Miranda Chaves, Renata, et al. “Respiratory physiotherapy can increase lower esophageal sphincter pressure in GERD patients.” Respiratory medicine vol. 106,12 (2012): 1794-9. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2012.08.023
Harding, Susan M. “Acid reflux and asthma.” Current opinion in pulmonary medicine vol. 9,1 (2003): 42-5. doi:10.1097/00063198-200301000-00007
Kahrilas, Peter J. “Regurgitation in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.” Gastroenterology & hepatology vol. 9,1 (2013): 37-9.
Pope, C E 2nd. “Acid-reflux disorders.” The New England journal of medicine vol. 331,10 (1994): 656-60. doi:10.1056/NEJM199409083311007
How a person walks or their gait performance can determine how their body’s balance and stability are functioning. Since the body has many muscles, ligaments, and tissues in the musculoskeletal system protecting the spine and the vital organs that work together to maintain proper functionality when a person is in motion; however, the body can succumb to numerous issues that can affect a person’s gait performance and cause the upper and lower extremities to develop myofascial trigger points in the muscle fibers. When these issues begin to cause dysfunction in the body, it can lead to many disorders associated with gait disturbances. Today we will focus on how to approach gait disturbances, how trigger points affect gait performances, and how treatment techniques like MET can help. We provide information about our patients to certified medical providers that offer available therapy techniques like MET (muscle energy techniques) for individuals dealing with gait disturbances associated with trigger points that correlate to how a person walks. We encourage each patient appropriately by referring them to our associated medical providers based on their diagnosis results. We accept that education is a spectacular way when asking our providers the most crucial questions at the patient’s acknowledgment. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., assesses this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
How To Approach Gait Disturbances?
Have you been dealing with mobility issues when walking? How about feeling stiffness in your hips or lower body extremities? Or have you experienced headaches or neck pain? Many of these issues are associated with gait disturbances that can affect your ability to walk. When it comes to gait disturbances, studies reveal that underlying systemic disorders or other environmental factors could trigger the prevalence of gait disturbances. Regarding gait disturbances, it is important to know that as the body ages, it can cause issues to the musculoskeletal system naturally, and environmental factors can further affect the central nervous system to cause gait disturbances. Additional studies have mentioned that gait disorders in the elderly could potentially lead to various issues that affect a person’s quality of life. When approaching gait disturbances, many doctors will examine to see the causes of these gait disturbances that correlate with the musculoskeletal system. It could be:
Orthopedic problems
Neurological conditions
Musculoskeletal disturbances
Metabolic disturbances
Many of these issues can cause the lower half of the body to shift the skeletal joints, leading to tight, stiff muscles and developing tiny hard nodules in the muscle fibers that can further affect gait performance.
How Do Trigger Points Affect Gait Performances
So how can these tiny hard nodules affect gait performance in the body? These small hard nodules are trigger points and often correlate with overlapping risk profiles associated with musculoskeletal disorders. “Clinical Application of Neuromuscular Techniques,” written by Leon Chaitow, N.D., D.O, and Judith Walker DeLany, L.M.T., mentioned that various additional causes and maintaining factors may be associated with dysfunctional patterns that correlate with trigger point involvement. The book also says that different influences affecting the muscles can increase trigger point activity while inducing influences from acute or chronic soft tissue dysfunction. Research studies reveal that myofascial pain syndrome is a collection of sensory, motor, and autonomic symptoms that correlate with musculoskeletal symptoms like local/referred pain, decreased range of motion, and muscle weakness. When trigger points are causing problems in the muscle fibers, it can affect a person’s gait performance and cause them to lose function when walking.
Balance Issues Associated With Myofascial Trigger Points-Video
Have you been dealing with balancing issues when walking? Do your muscles feel tight in certain areas? Or do constant headaches or neck pain affect your day? The video above explains what can cause balancing issues that affect gait performance and cause numerous symptoms like headaches and neck pain. Many balance issues are associated with myofascial trigger points affecting your gait performance. Myofascial trigger points can overlap risk profiles that can affect the muscle fibers in the body. Many correlating factors can affect a person’s gait performance, leading to musculoskeletal disorders related to trigger points. When musculoskeletal disorders are correlated with myofascial trigger points, it can decrease a person’s health and wellness if not treated early on. Fortunately, some treatments incorporate techniques to reduce muscle and joint pain while alleviating symptoms associated with myofascial trigger points.
How The MET Technques Helps With Gait Performance & Trigger Points
When a person is dealing with imbalances affecting their gait performance and having overlapping risk profiles associated with trigger points, treatment techniques can help improve their gait while reducing pain-like symptoms. Many pain specialists will use the MET technique (muscle energy technique) to help stretch affected muscles that are stiff and help regain mobility back to the body. Therapies like chiropractic care utilize this technique combined with spinal manipulation to help realign the body while loosening up stiff muscles affecting gait performance. When a person continues treatment care to regain mobility, it allows them to be aware of how they walk and carry themselves without pain.
Conclusion
How a person walks is how their balance and stability function in different environments. A person’s gait performance has to maintain the functionality that allows the various muscles, ligaments, and tissues in the musculoskeletal system to move. When environmental factors or musculoskeletal disorders affect the different muscles, it can cause overlapping issues that affect gait performance. To that point, it leads to stiffness and pain associated with trigger points. Luckily techniques like the MET combined with chiropractic care can help realign the body and loosen up stiff muscles and joints to regain mobility back to the body and help improve overall gait performance.
References
Chaitow, Leon, and Judith Walker DeLany. Clinical Application of Neuromuscular Techniques. Churchill Livingstone, 2002.
Marshall, Frederick J. “Approach to the Elderly Patient with Gait Disturbance.” Neurology. Clinical Practice, U.S. National Library of Medicine, June 2012, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3613197/.
Pirker, Walter, and Regina Katzenschlager. “Gait Disorders in Adults and the Elderly : A Clinical Guide.” Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Feb. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5318488/.
Healthy sleep is vital for having enough energy, thinking clearly, and managing everyday stresses confidently. Chronic unhealthy sleep patterns and/or insomnia can lead to and contribute to various health issues. This includes daytime fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, delayed reaction time, constantly getting sick, and memory problems. Sleeping health problems can get worse with every night of poor rest. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic provide treatment, training, and tools to realign and relax the body and restore healthy sleep.
Sleeping Health Problems
Lack of sleep disrupts and slows down nerve impulses and transmissions throughout the body. This can lead to health problems that can include:
Excessive fatigue
Brain fog
Slow responses
Physical performance problems
Inability to remember
Low sex drive
Chronic illness
Over time the risk of developing a serious medical condition increases and can include:
Anxiety
Depression
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Weakened immune system
Stroke
Heart attack
Seizures
Staying On
There is some research that insomnia is associated with hyperarousal or the state of staying on. It often starts with a stressful event that sets off the body’s systems, causing the inability to relax completely. Body discomfort and pain symptoms can also present when the mind and body can’t relax. The entire body can tighten/stiffen, causing aches, soreness, and pain. Continuation of sleeping health problems of the cycle leads to more stress.
Chiropractic care, massage, and decompression therapy can help break the cycle. Breaking the process is necessary to help the body recover and rehabilitate properly. Treatment retrains the body to relax; stretching and pulling the muscles increases blood circulation, as well as advanced and improved brain signals telling the body to relax. A chiropractor will evaluate the individuals sleeping patterns and recommend various solutions. The benefits for individuals with sleep issues include:
Alleviates muscle tension.
Stimulates nerve circulation and blood flow.
Relaxes the whole body.
Enhances central nervous system function.
Relieves pain and discomfort.
A chiropractor will also provide the following:
Sleeping position recommendations.
Postural stretches and exercises.
Recommendations on supportive mattresses.
Ergonomics for work, home, and bed.
Chiropractic’s Evolution
References
Hale, Deborah, and Katherine Marshall. “Sleep and Sleep Hygiene.” Home healthcare now vol. 37,4 (2019): 227. doi:10.1097/NHH.0000000000000803
The body makes digestive enzymes to help break down food carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Healthy digestion and nutrient absorption depend on these enzymes, a protein that speeds up chemical reactions in the mouth, pancreas, and intestines. Certain health conditions like pancreatic insufficiency and lactose intolerance can cause low enzyme levels and insufficiency and may need replacement digestive enzymes to help prevent malabsorption. That’s where digestive enzyme supplements come in.
Digestive Enzymes
Digestive enzymes are a vital part of digestion; without them, the body can’t break foods down, and nutrients can’t be fully absorbed. A lack of digestive enzymes can lead to gastrointestinal/GI symptoms and cause malnourishment, even with a nutritious diet. The result is unpleasant digestive symptoms that can include:
Poor absorption of nutrients
Bloating
Stomach pain
Nausea
Vomiting
Digestive enzyme supplements have been used for treating common forms of gut irritation, heartburn, and other ailments.
Enzyme Types
The main digestive enzymes made in the pancreas include:
Amylase
It is also made in the mouth.
Breaks down carbohydrates, or starches, into sugar molecules.
Low amylase can lead to diarrhea.
Lipase
This works with liver bile to break down fats.
Lipase insufficiency causes decreased levels of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Protease
This enzyme breaks down proteins into amino acids.
It also helps keep bacteria, yeast, and protozoa out of the intestines.
A shortage of protease can lead to allergies or toxicity in the intestines.
Enzymes made in the small intestine include:
Lactase
Breaks down lactose, a sugar found in dairy products.
Sucrase
Breaks down sucrose, a sugar found in fruits and vegetables.
Insufficiency
When the body does not produce enough digestive enzymes or doesn’t release them correctly. A few types include:
Lactose Intolerance
The body does not produce enough lactase, making digesting the natural sugar in milk and dairy products difficult.
Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
EPI is when the pancreas does not produce enough of the enzymes necessary to digest carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
Congenital Sucrase-Isomaltase Deficiency
The body does not have enough sucrase to digest certain sugars.
Talking to a doctor if symptoms persist is recommended, as these could be signs of gut irritation or indicate a more serious condition.
Supplements
Prescription Enzymes
Depending on the severity, individuals diagnosed with enzyme insufficiency may need to take prescription digestive enzymes. These supplements assist in food breakdown and nutrient absorption. The most common enzyme replacement therapy is pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy or PERT. PERT is a prescribed medication that includes amylase, lipase, and protease. Individuals with cystic fibrosis often have pancreatic enzyme insufficiency, as the body can’t release the enzymes properly. And individuals with pancreatitis require PERT because their pancreas develops mucus and scar tissue over time.
Over-The-Counter Enzymes
Over-the-counter digestive enzyme supplements can contain amylase, lipase, and protease and can help with acid reflux, gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Some contain lactase and alpha-galactosidase. Alpha-galactosidase can help break down a non-absorbable fiber called galactooligosaccharides/GOS, mostly found in beans, root vegetables, and certain dairy products.
Certain foods contain digestive enzymes, including:
Supplementing the diet with some of these foods can help with digestion.
Functional Nutrition
References
Beliveau, Peter J H, et al. “An Investigation of Chiropractor-Directed Weight-Loss Interventions: Secondary Analysis of O-COAST.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 42,5 (2019): 353-365. doi:10.1016/j.jmpt.2018.11.015
Brennan, Gregory T, and Muhammad Wasif Saif. “Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy: A Concise Review.” JOP: Journal of the pancreas vol. 20,5 (2019): 121-125.
Corring, T. “The adaptation of digestive enzymes to the diet: its physiological significance.” Reproduction, nutrition, developpement vol. 20,4B (1980): 1217-35. doi:10.1051/rnd:19800713
Goodman, Barbara E. “Insights into digestion and absorption of major nutrients in humans.” Advances in physiology education vol. 34,2 (2010): 44-53. doi:10.1152/advan.00094.2009
Vogt, Günter. “Synthesis of digestive enzymes, food processing, and nutrient absorption in decapod crustaceans: a comparison to the mammalian model of digestion.” Zoology (Jena, Germany) vol. 147 (2021): 125945. doi:10.1016/j.zool.2021.125945
Whitcomb, David C, and Mark E Lowe. “Human pancreatic digestive enzymes.” Digestive diseases and sciences vol. 52,1 (2007): 1-17. doi:10.1007/s10620-006-9589-z
When it comes to the body, the various muscles, tissues, joints, and organs provide functionality and movement when it is in motion. Everyone worldwide cares for their bodies by resting them when needed, eating numerous foods to provide energy, and staying active to live longer. However, over time, many factors can contribute to the body by causing many individuals to develop musculoskeletal issues that can affect a person’s posture and the sensory-motor functions that the body provides to maintain motion and stability. In today’s article, we examine muscle imbalances, how it affects the body’s gait pattern, and how the MET technique can help with muscle imbalances. We provide information about our patients to certified medical providers that offer available therapy techniques like MET (muscle energy techniques) for individuals dealing with chronic conditions associated with muscle imbalances that could affect a person’s gait pattern and lead to pain in the muscles and joints. We encourage each patient appropriately by referring them to our associated medical providers based on their diagnosis results. We accept that education is a spectacular way when asking our providers the most crucial questions at the patient’s acknowledgment. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., assesses this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
What Are Muscle Imbalances?
Have you been dealing with tight back, shoulders, and hip muscles? Do you feel one side of your body is weaker than the other? Or do you feel unstable when walking? Many people who are experiencing these issues are associated with muscle imbalances that are affecting their bodies. So what are muscle imbalances, and how does it affect the body? Well, according to “Clinical Applications of Neuromuscular Techniques,” written by Leon Chaitow, N.D, D.O, and Judith Walker DeLany, L.M.T., stated that the soft tissues in our bodies are often changed from their normal elastic, pliable, and toned functional status to short, fibrous and weak function in the different muscle groups. Since the body compensates (without any chronic symptoms) to everyday activities, when the body’s muscles and tissues are exhausted, it can cause the symptoms to develop over time, causing pain, muscle restriction, and limited range of motion to the body. Thus, these symptoms often correlate to musculoskeletal disorders, leading to muscle imbalances.
Other issues that can cause muscle imbalances in the body could result from muscle injuries from traumatic forces. Research studies have revealed that repetitive motions from traumatic injuries could result in microtrauma tears to the muscles and tendons, which can develop into muscle-referred pain and increase the risk of chronic joint inflammation. To that point, it can lead to referred pain in different body areas and affect a person’s stability. When the body is dealing with traumatic injuries that affect the muscles over time, many people shift how they walk or change their postures to compensate for the pain, which can change their gait patterns.
How Does It Affect The Body’s Gait Pattern?
When a person is walking, their entire body is in motion, and over time their posture will change depending on the upper body’s weight bearing down to the hips and lower extremities. Studies reveal that loss of muscle strength can be characterized by musculoskeletal disorders like osteoarthritis that can cause pain symptoms, reduce physical function, decrease range of motion, and muscle/joint instability. So how would muscle imbalances affect the body’s gait pattern? First, we must look at the influences that the neurological and metabolic functions of the central nervous system provide on the musculoskeletal system. The central nervous system sends neuron signals to each muscle group from the upper and lower extremities to allow the individual to walk, run, and do other motor functions. When muscle imbalances are associated with traumatic injuries, it can cause the body to be hunched over over time, causing the short muscles to be tight and the long muscles to be weak. To that point, it can lead to a chain of dysfunctional phases of the gait cycle and its associated symptoms. Some of the signs that can affect a person’s gait pattern include:
Associated joint restriction on the hips
Muscle tension on the pelvis and lower extremities
Muscle tightness in the cervical-thoracic region of the back
Trigger points on the lower extremities causing referred pain
How Muscle Imbalances Associate With Low Back Pain- Video
Have you been dealing with pain in your joints or muscles? Do you find it difficult to walk or carry heavy objects? Or have you been experiencing tight hips and shoulders? Many of these issues are due to muscle imbalances associated with traumatic injuries. The video above explains how muscle imbalances could be related to low back pain. When environmental factors or traumatic forces begin to affect the muscles and joints in the body, it can change a person’s gait pattern (how they walk) and develop into chronic issues affecting the body. When the muscles are imbalanced and cause gait problems, it can lead to muscle and joint pain associated with poor posture and other chronic conditions. When this happens, it can lead to dysfunctional phases of the gait pattern. Luckily there are many treatments and techniques to reduce pain and restore gait function to the body.
How The MET Technique Help With Muscle Imbalances
Going to therapy treatments to restore muscle functionality, enable the body to recover naturally, and reduce the chances of future injuries to come back. When the body is dealing with muscle imbalances, there are many treatments and techniques that many pain specialists, like chiropractic care that are utilized to restore the body and prevent injuries from re-occurring. One of the techniques is called the MET technique (muscle energy technique). The MET technique is a form of manual therapy that uses isometric stretches to reduce pain in the soft tissues and lengthen weak muscles. Studies reveal that when pain specialists use the MET technique combined with other treatments like physical therapy and spinal manipulation, it can help reduce the pain affecting the muscle fibers while restoring the body to normalcy and lengthening tight muscles. When the MET technique is combined with other forms of therapy, it can help stretch and strengthen the weak muscles and allows the individual to be aware of how their posture is being corrected.
Conclusion
It is important to everyone that different factors and injuries could result from muscle imbalances that can affect your posture. Muscle imbalances in the body can lead to unwanted symptoms of muscle weakness, pain, and dysfunctional gait patterns that correlate with musculoskeletal disorders. Going to therapy treatments and incorporating techniques like MET, physical activities, and chiropractic care can help the body be restored and prevent future injuries from returning and affecting a person’s health and wellness.
References
Chaitow, Leon, and Judith Walker DeLany. Clinical Applications of Neuromuscular Techniques. Churchill Livingstone, 2003.
Joshi, Reema, and Nishita Poojary. “The Effect of Muscle Energy Technique and Posture Correction Exercises on Pain and Function in Patients with Non-Specific Chronic Neck Pain Having Forward Head Posture-a Randomized Controlled Trail.” International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 June 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9134480/.
Neme, Jamil R. “Balancing Act: Muscle Imbalance Effects on Musculoskeletal Injuries.” Missouri Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9324710/.
Vodička, Tomáš, et al. “Could the Evaluation of Muscle Strength Imbalances Be Used as a Predictor of Total Hip Arthroplasty?” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 11 May 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8150769/.
Nutrition and Chiropractic Care: Chiropractic care treats the body as a whole. It can relieve and alleviate ailments from injuries, conditions, or diseases to help maintain optimal health. A treatment plan includes nutrition recommendations to support the body’s systems, reduce inflammation responses, build muscle and bone strength, and maintain chiropractic adjustments.
Nutrition and Chiropractic Care
Individuals can influence musculoskeletal system health by balancing what they consume. If food choices are unhealthy, the benefits of chiropractic may be lessened from the negative effects of unhealthy foods on the body.
Muscle Repair
Muscle injuries are common from normal wear and tear, work, sports, and personal injuries. Calorie-heavy foods can lead to increased weight. Increased weight puts extra stress on the body as it is healing, making the healing process last longer and less effective. A recommended nutritional plan to build muscle strength around the injured areas will supplement chiropractic care.
Foods include sweet potatoes, salmon, eggs, spinach, bananas, nuts, and seeds.
Bone Health
Misalignment, imbalances, and injuries can be caused in part by weakness in various bones.
Calcium is integral in improving bone strength.
Foods high in calcium can benefit chiropractic adjustments by strengthening the skeletal system.
A balanced intake of calcium and magnesium helps build bone strength and decreases the chances of developing osteoporosis.
Magnesium can be found in almonds, spinach, avocado, cashews, and bananas.
Digestion
Chiropractic treatments also help promote healthy digestion by relieving tension in the stomach and helping to restore proper function in the organs and muscles. Regular chiropractic has been shown to reduce symptoms associated with constipation, bloating, diarrhea, nausea, irritable bowel syndrome – IBS, Crohn’s disease, colitis, GERD – Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, and vomiting.
Foods that help maintain a healthy gut include brown rice, beans, oats, and fruits and vegetables.
Respiratory Health
Breathing problems come in various forms depending on the individual and their case. The ribs, upper chest, and neck muscles all support breathing. Stress can cause rapid and shallow breathing that overworks these muscles. Breathing problems often correlate with other health issues, including back and neck pain, poor digestion, fatigue, and tension headaches. Chiropractic pinpoints subluxations or undue interruption of the nerve signals and corrects any misalignments so that nerve signals flow properly.
Foods that help with lung health include tomatoes, apples, berries, and broccoli.
Nervous System Health
Chiropractic focuses on restoring the body to optimal function so that it can heal through normal nervous system function. Treatment resets the vertebrae into proper alignment, reducing swelling, blockages, and nerve stress, allowing the nervous system to function at full capacity.
Foods that can help are dark chocolate, spinach, avocados, garlic, and asparagus.
Circulatory System
Chiropractic adjustments increase blood circulation. Adjustments and massage loosen the muscles attached to the specific areas, which also promotes the flow and movement of waste in the lymphatic system in and out of specific areas.
Foods that help with circulation include onions, beets, citrus fruits, tomatoes, walnuts, and fatty fish.
Nutrition and chiropractic care go hand in hand. When the body gets the nutrition it needs, it works more efficiently.
An unhealthy diet can cause sluggishness, low energy, and increase inflammatory responses that can lead to chronic conditions. A nutritionist can create a personalized nutrition plan to maximize the benefits as they work together to improve overall health and wellness.
Intermittent Fasting
References
Elma, Ömer, et al. “Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and Nutrition: Where Are We and Where Are We Heading?.” PM & R: the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation vol. 12,12 (2020): 1268-1278. doi:10.1002/pmrj.12346
Elma, Ömer, et al. “Do Nutritional Factors Interact with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain? A Systematic Review.” Journal of clinical medicine vol. 9,3 702. 5 Mar. 2020, doi:10.3390/jcm9030702
Holtzman, Denise, and Jeanmarie Burke. “Nutritional counseling in the chiropractic practice: a survey of New York practitioners.” Journal of chiropractic medicine vol. 6,1 (2007): 27-31. doi:10.1016/j.jcme.2007.02.008
Koehler, Karsten, and Clemens Drenowatz. “Integrated Role of Nutrition and Physical Activity for Lifelong Health.” Nutrients vol. 11,7 1437. 26 Jun. 2019, doi:10.3390/nu11071437
Lee, Mi Kyung, et al. “The use of nutritional guidance within chiropractic patient management: a survey of 333 chiropractors from the ACORN practice-based research network.” Chiropractic & manual therapies vol. 26 7. 20 Feb. 2018, doi:10.1186/s12998-018-0175-1
Mangano, Kelsey M et al. “Dietary protein is associated with musculoskeletal health independently of dietary pattern: the Framingham Third Generation Study.” The American journal of clinical nutrition vol. 105,3 (2017): 714-722. doi:10.3945/ajcn.116.136762
Mendonça, Carolina Rodrigues et al. “Effects of Nutritional Interventions in the Control of Musculoskeletal Pain: An Integrative Review.” Nutrients vol. 12,10 3075. 9 Oct. 2020, doi:10.3390/nu12103075
Tajary, Zahra, et al. “Musculoskeletal Pain Is Associated with Dietary Diversity Score among Community-Dwelling Older Adult: A Cross-Sectional Study.” International journal of food science vol. 2022 4228925. 7 Feb. 2022, doi:10.1155/2022/4228925
Many people don’t often realize that stability and balance are two of the most reliable abilities to keep the body from falling, and it is often taken for granted from the earlier stages, where infants and toddlers are learning to stand upright, to adulthood where we are walking, running or performing any physical activities. Our bodies are complex machines comprised of upper and lower portions that provide balance and stability. The lower half of our bodies helps stabilize and balance the upper half weight and allows us to move around. This is known as gait. However, when the body begins to age naturally or chronic issues begin to affect the muscles and cause an imbalance in the lower half, it can lead to many disorders associated with these imbalances. Today’s articles examine what gait is, how gait disturbances are associated with the body, and how the MET technique improves gait. We provide information about our patients to certified medical providers that offer available therapy techniques like MET (muscle energy techniques) for individuals dealing with chronic conditions associated with gait disturbances that could affect a person’s ability to walk. We encourage each patient appropriately by referring them to our associated medical providers based on their diagnosis results. We accept that education is a spectacular way when asking our providers the most crucial questions at the patient’s acknowledgment. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., assesses this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
What Is Gait?
Have you been dealing with issues when walking for a short or long distance? Do your feet or ankles seem to feel tired or ache when stepping? Or have you been dealing with mobility issues in your hips? Many of these issues are associated with gait and can cause balance disturbances in the body. So what is gait? In the book by Leon Chaitow, N.D, D.O., and Judith Walker DeLany, L.M.T, titled “Clinical Applications of Neuromuscular Techniques,” gait is defined as how you walk and how each lower body section contributes to how you walk. This includes:
Feet
Ankles
Knees
Hips
Spine
The book also mentions how a person progresses from one location to another using muscular action and gravity to make them walk. Two functional units are in a casual relationship contributing to gait: the passenger and locomotor units. The passenger unit consists of the upper extremities, like the head, neck, arms, trunk, and pelvis, to be the center of gravity when moving forward. At the same time, the locomotor unit comprises the pelvis and lower extremities, like the legs, knees, feet, and ankles, to support the weight of the upper extremities and perform structural stability and mobility to make the body move forward.
Gait Disturbances Associated With The Body
So what happens when traumatic factors or natural aging begins to affect the body and causes gait disturbances. Research studies reveal that since gait depends on the interplay of the nervous, musculoskeletal, and cardiorespiratory system which can be influenced by age and other factors that can lead to issues in the lower extremities causing falls and injuries. Many factors can lead to gait disturbances that can affect how a person walks and how it can affect the joints and muscles, which can lead to pain-like symptoms. Additional studies mentioned that gait disorder affects elderly adults, increasing their fall risk and leading to mobility issues in their hips. Muscle shortening and joint health are other issues that can cause gait disturbances in the lower extremities. When the muscles in the lower extremities are tight and weak, it can cause them to be short and be accompanied by joint dysfunction. The health of the joints in the lower extremities depends on the balancing strength of the opposing flexor muscles. When the flexor muscles lose part or all of their function, it can cause the joint to be hyperextended. To that point, it causes abnormal joint stress, corresponding to lower back pain associated with gait disorders affecting a person’s ability to walk and keep their body balanced.
An Overview Of Gait Analysis-Video
Have you been dealing with mobility issues in your joints? Do you find yourself becoming unstable every time you walk? Or do your leg muscles feel tight? If you have been dealing with these issues, it could be due to a gait problem. Many people have different ways of walking; if there are issues, they can be pointed out in an examination. When there is an issue with gait, it can indicate pain and other revealing problems that can affect the entire body. The video above explains the gait cycle and gait analysis of a person’s walk. Gait analysis is often used in a normal examination to evaluate how a person walks, their body mechanics, and muscle activity to provide insight into the issue. A person’s gait can offer many important clues that doctors and pain specialists can see and identify the problem by developing a treatment plan to improve a person’s gait and reduce pain-like symptoms.
How The MET Technique Improves Gait
So many treatment plans can effectively improve balance and gait disorders in the body. Many pain specialists like chiropractors use manual spinal manipulation to re-align the spine to loosen stiff joints that may have contributed to imbalances in the lower extremities. MET (muscle energy technique) and physical therapy can help stretch the tight muscles and strengthen the muscle groups affected. MET and other approaches to improve gait allow many individuals to regain their stamina and adopt new strategies for their posture and movement. These therapy treatments will enable a person to feel more confident and more aware of how they walk while providing muscle strength to the affected muscles to prevent fatigue and decrease the chances of injuries in the future, as studies reveal.
Conclusion
Walking is determined by a person’s gait and how they move in different scenarios. Our bodies are comprised of upper and lower portions that correspond with gait and allow us stability and balance when we are in motion. When various issues like traumatic factors or just normal aging affect the body, the joints and muscles can cause problems with a person’s gait, leading to balance issues and fall injuries. Incorporating treatment plans to improve gait can help prevent future chances of injuries and help stretch and strengthen the affected muscles while loosening up stiff joints. This allows a person to regain their balance and improve stability in their bodies.
References
Baker, Jessica M. “Gait Disorders.” The American Journal of Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 27 Dec. 2017, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29288631/.
Chaitow, Leon, and Judith Walker DeLany. Clinical Applications of Neuromuscular Techniques. Churchill Livingstone, 2003.
Pirker, Walter, and Regina Katzenschlager. “Gait Disorders in Adults and the Elderly : A Clinical Guide.” Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Feb. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5318488/.
Van Abbema, Renske, et al. “What Type, or Combination of Exercise Can Improve Preferred Gait Speed in Older Adults? A Meta-Analysis.” BMC Geriatrics, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 July 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4488060/.
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